The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-02-05
LINCOLN AT NORFOLK.
Reductions OF the Late War by a Cecil
County Soldier.


CHAPTER H.
Very few persons at the present day
are aware 81 the fact that President Lin
cola played an important part IN the uc-
cupdJIou OF Norfolk but such Is the lacL
nevertheless. 1t was brought about IN
/ the following manner shortly after the
| failure Of the attempt of the MerIimac to
raise the blockade around Norfolk. Lin
coin accompanied by several members of
| the Cabinet paid visit to Fortress Mon
! roe. while there small tug boat rau
away from Crauey Island aud reported
To Gen. Wool that the ReUela were MAX
ing preparations to e,acuate the city and
the President thinkln. the opportunity
too good To DO lost urged Gen. Wool to
move his troops Immediately SO that he,
the President, might have a maud in the
business. The troops outside the tort
were moved So as to make the impression
that a small number Were leavIn. and 4
much larger number WAS comm. in. In
other words, two or three regiments ware
ordered t. strike their tents aud go on
board transports laying 1T the wharf
where they stayed until morning, when
they With others who bau come down in
the night marched back To camp AID but
up their tents As il they had Just arrived
All of these movements could be seen
frozen Srwell's Point With good field
glass. TAese tactics We're followed up
for several days when the final move Wa
made the troops gOn. o. boar o .mer>
and landed at VIII ulhby Beach the next
morning. The President and party with
Gen. Wool and his staff on the Wash
inston," with the First Delaware R.gi-
meut. After the transport left the wharf
and while on tue way across che bay the
President and party mounted to the
main deck wi ere he addressed the regi-
meut and compiimented the Blue Hens
Chickens for their heroiSm and 1sllautry
and said the little state OF Delaware haG
done its full share i'll the struggle for III
dependauce, and was always ready when
ever called on by the general government
for assistance. Tue troops for the pres
cut expedition were composed OF three
regiments lnfautry, two of cavalry and
one battery of artillery, all OF which were
landed oil WIlloughhy Beach about sun
rise in the morning in the manner shown
in the diagram. After the troops were
landed and hue termed the President
took the lead and started UP the shore to
tue earthworks ON Seweli's Point, where
We struck the road and So complete was
the surprise aud SO hasty tho retreat OF
the z trrlsou that the breakfast WAS found
smoking not on the tables OF the officers
and III some tents swords, bats, coats
and camp cloadS were found after ran
sack NJ toe different camps. The march
Was resumed by way of the road on
which the old Indi IL Pole Bridge was
located which place we reached about
noon in time TO find the bridge Oil ire
ana the road blocked. Tba rear guarG
VI tbt SilfiIN W - ttl INV Olutl SliiS ''t4
We c"uldn get at them SO there W.,
nothing left but to tiud another road
which we did by going about five miles
around, 10y this time the men were nearly
tagged out by the hot SUI. The order
WAS given to sling knapsacks and put
them N piles and each company furnished
OH ard H / Lr ~ re # II
morning wnen wagons were sent 70,
them. After crossing the stream tho
men pushed forward III light matching
order aud came IN sight of the eaIth-
works at the back of the city just as the
shades of night were closing aud YOU
may be sure the sight OF the black muZ-
zlrs of the big guns pointing at us
TIN Tough the port holes made cold chills
run Gown our backs but we had no time
to study over the matter for the order
was given to charge on the works and
away we Went heller SHELTER Alter a
double quick of over \ half mile We soon
found ourselves over the top and inside
OF the works and not 'Juhnny' in
sight. After planting The "coloIs" of
the infantry on the works the President
led the way into the city escorted by the
Delaware Boys who for three months
afterwards did guard duty III the city
finding quarters III private u0uses schools
and colleges and any other place they
could find to shelter themselves. TIE
President and Gen. Wood found quarters
i'll the large hotel at the corner of Water
and Bank street. Lincoln staid until
next morning when he and Gen. Wool
returned to Fortress Monroe by water
after placing Gen. Niele in command as
Provost Marshall. At one time during
our occupation Of Portsmouth the citi
zens complained of the flag being raised
over The gate of the ferry and Gen. Niele
ordered it taken down. Lieut.. Colonel
IL ppkins who hid command on that side
refused to obey the order and rendered
his resignation. The matter was settled
by being referred To Gen. Wool who OF
dered the II tg to remain on tho ferry and
ended the capture of Norfolk by the Pres